Cosplay level: crochet

My dearest blogreaders and (hopefully) fellow geeks,

Last weekend signified a milestone in my existence as a self-proclaimed "geek". As the FACTS convention was approaching, and my friends decided we'd give cosplaying a chance, I went looking for an opportunity to make myself a costume. My boyfriend reminded me I once made him a failed Chickenchaser costume. Failed? I hear you ask. It was not failed as much as it was too small.

 

This was eventually what it looked like on him. Very tight. That's what you get when you try and make a sweater as a surprise and don't have the right measurements.... (On the right: what it was supposed to look like)
Anyway, since I myself am also quite a fan of the game, my boyfriend suggested I would alter the sweater into my own size. A task that seemed more possible than to readjust it to his.
The sweater also was never meant to be a cosplay or anything, it was meant to be an everyday sweater. Thus it was designed to beat the cold rather than to beat imaginary bandits, hobbs and balverines.

Photo by Alexander Atlesque

The final product looked like this. Smaller, a lot, and more detailed, also a lot. I crocheter myself some simple fingerless mits to complete the Fable Guild Apprentice look. The blue stripes on both the capelet and the hood got some light blue embroidering to give it a more magic-y feeling. A polymerclay Guild Seal to dangle around my neck, and last but not least: a crocheted chicken to make clear I was not but any Apprentice. I cosplayed Chickenchaser, the Hero of Oakvale. Not a lot of people that were present at FACTS recognized me as such, yet the chicken got a lot of attention. Therefore I want to give special attention to the pattern I used for it: Hildegard, the Live-sized Crochet Chicken by Cogaroo crafts which can be found here. At some point at the convention The Flash came running behind me imitating chickennoises. An anecdote that might show the "popularity" of my chicken despite no one knowing whom I was cosplaying. I also got a lot of positive remarks about the way the chicken was made, of course that made me quite happy. Doesn't everybody likes to be complimented on their craftskills? I bet they do.
Maybe a little story about why my friend is holding the chicken: the chicken fits in the background stories of both the characters we were cosplaying. Lots of people even thought the chicken belonged to her rather than to me. (I guess that's mostly because people didn't recognize my character as such)

Photo by Chelsea Ruelens

I also just wanted to show the group-picture with my friends. Maybe also a little bit to show that crochet cosplay really doesn't look shabbier or less awesome than "normal" cosplay. Note: this was for all of us the first time we cosplayed, so of course it is not as spectacular as some cosplays you see around the internet. Also not as slutty sexy. (For the non-geeky readers: from left to right: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Chickenchaser the hero of Oakvale, Link from the Legend of Zelda, Hermione from Harry Potter and Castiel from Supernatural.)

If anyone had previous encounters with crochet cosplay (or was present at FACTS 
2015 and has photos of us), don't hesitate sending me an e-mail at: thimblewuddlecrochet@gmail.com. (I know I messed up the mailadress.)

Live long and prosper, may the force be with you, be strong, Harry, be safe (or any other geeky salutations you may think off)

Thimblewubble